Yelu Yan scrutinized her with his profound tiger-like eyes and said, "You are the queen, you have the final say on the matters of the bedchamber."
Li Xianyun curtsied and said, "Thank you, Khan."
As she watched Yelu Yan leave, Li Xianyun, accompanied by Zhuo Ma and Youlan, headed towards the Empress Dowager's Palace. The maids at the entrance had completely abandoned their earlier indifference, standing by the door with utmost respect and even performed a bent-arm salute as Li Xianyun passed by.
Li Xianyun couldn't help but look back at Yelu Yan, his broad back and tall figure imposing and majestic; it was thanks to this man that she was treated with such favor.
Entering the palace, the pavilions and towers were connected, and although they couldn't compare to the exquisite beauty of Houtang's architecture, there was an added sense of grandeur.
"Princess," Zhuo Ma advised by Li Xianyun's side, "when we enter the Grand Imperial Consort's bedchamber, you will see many women of the court. You needn't pay respects to them; just salute the Grand Imperial Consort."
"Alright."
"You must now perform the bent-arm salute according to Khitan customs," Zhuo Ma continued.
Li Xianyun nodded and asked, "Is the Grand Imperial Consort the Khan's mother?"
"Yes."
Li Xianyun hesitated before asking, "What is the relationship between the Khan and the Grand Imperial Consort?"
Zhuo Ma had a troubled expression on her face, which suggested the relationship between the two wasn't very good.
Li Xianyun understood and said lightly, "This palace understands."
Appreciating her perceptiveness, Zhuo Ma said, "Princess, from now on, you should refer to yourself as 'this consort.'"
Li Xianyun nodded, feeling somewhat unaccustomed to the change.
Li Xianyun was led by the Grand Imperial Consort's Palace maids, heading deeper into the palace. The Khitan etiquette was quite different from Houtang's, but fortunately, Zhuo Ma was with her to guide, sparing her from making any blunders.
Upon entering the main building, the vast hall housed many women, their Khitan attire glittering and splendid, their headgear shimmering brightly.
Different clothes and headwear signified differing statuses.
Li Xianyun instantly spotted the lavishly dressed woman seated at the center.
Although she was well past fifty, it seemed time had been generous to her. Her skin remained as smooth as a young girl's, with only a few wrinkles at her neck and around her eyes betraying her age.
She wore many precious head ornaments atop her high-piled hair, which looked heavy and tiring to wear, yet she seemed to revel in it, chatting merrily with a young woman beside her.
The young woman she conversed with also stood out among the many in the room. She was strikingly beautiful, vibrant, and extroverted, seemingly quite cheerful, her eyes almost turning into crescents when she smiled.
At first glance, she seemed quite likable, but the glances she occasionally cast in Li Xianyun's direction revealed a woman of deep cunning.
Just as Li Xianyun pondered the identity of this woman, Zhuo Ma whispered, "Princess, the woman seated in the main seat is the Grand Imperial Consort, and the one speaking with her is the Commandery Princess of the South, who grew up with the Khan."
Zhuo Ma, indeed sent by Yelu Yan, clarified the relationships with just a few sentences.
The Commandery Princess of the South had grown up alongside Yelu Yan; the two were practically childhood sweethearts.
Li Xianyun thought back to Yelu Yan's words that aside from love, he could give her endless wealth and honor. Could it be because of this Commandery Princess of the South?
Could it be that Yelu Yan was fond of the Commandery Princess of the South?
That seemed unlikely. What kind of person was Yelu Yan? Over the years, his conquests had led many neighboring states to pay homage to him, even those who had not submitted were terrified by his name.
A man like him, if he fancied a woman, would surely take her as his wife. Why would he let the woman he liked suffer and marry someone else?
Moreover, she herself was sent by Houtang to please Yelu Yan; she was inconsequential, and Yelu Yan would not mistreat his beloved for her.
So she must be mistaken, Yelu Yan did not harbor feelings for this Commandery Princess of the South. Whether there were other feelings akin to those of siblings, she couldn't be certain yet.
But what she could be sure of was that the Commandery Princess of the South must have feelings for Yelu Yan.